African American War Heroes

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Detailed profiles bring stories of African American heroism in the U.S. armed forces to life, from the American Revolution through the conflict in Afghanistan. African American war heroes remain largely unsung, their courage and valor relegated to the less traveled corners of history. This work seeks out those heroessoldiers, sailors, flyers, and marineswho earned their nation's highest medals in defense of freedom and equality. Some of these men and women died on the battlefield. Others returned to civilian life in a segregated country. What they share across time and circumstance is devotion to duty and to the country they defended, even in the face of personal and racial prejudice. Entries profile decorated African Americans from all of the U.S. conflicts since the Revolutionary War. In addition to providing basic biographical data, each profile offers a detailed account of the individual's heroic actions. The book also offers sidebars on events and topics relevant to African Americans in the U.S. armed forces, such as histories of the 54th Massachusetts and the Tuskegee Airmen.

Reviews

Although some of the individuals are well-known (e.g., Dorie Miller, Harriet Tubman), the stories of the lesser-known figures such as World War I veteran Henry L. Johnson of 'The Harlem Hellfighters' makes this collection an excellent addition to all African American studies and U.S. military history collections. * ARBAonline *
This unique directory addresses individuals often overlooked in standard texts and provides sufficient context so that researchers can appreciate the continuing prejudice these individuals faced. Large public and high school libraries may want to consider this specialized volume for their collections. * Booklist *

Author Bio

James B. Martin, PhD, is associate dean of academics at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS.